Two-color printing-machine



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J. T. HAWKINS. TWO COLOR PRINTING MACHINE.

N0. 429,905. Patented'Ju'ne 10, 1890.

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' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. T. HAWKINS.

I Two COLOR PRINTING MACHINE. N0. 429,905. Patented June 10, 1890.

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7 full illustration of this invention.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. HAXVKINS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TWO-COLOR PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,905, dated June 10,1890.

Application filed February 13, 1890. Serial No. 340,255. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN THOMAS HAWKINS, of Taunton, in the county ofBristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Two-Color Printing-Machines, which invention is fullyset forth and illustrated in the following specification andaccompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine which shall printtwo separate colors or two separate impressions upon one side of a sheetby means of two forms attached to a single reciprocating bed and twoimpressioncylinders corresponding thereto in passing the sheet oncethrough the machine, and to effect this without contact of the printedside of the sheet with any part of the mechanism in the transfer fromone impression-cylinder to the other or in the process of delivery.

The invention will first be described in detail and then particularlyset forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of so much ofa machine for printing in two colors, or two impressions in one color,as is necessary to the complete illustration of the invention, sundryparts being omitted, such as the mechanism for reciprocating theform-bed,that for operating the Various grippers and the fly, theink-fountain, and other parts of the inking apparatus, these bein gcapable of construction in a variety of ways well known in the art andnot necessary to a Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are diagrams, on a reduced scale,showing the relative positions of several parts for three differentpositions of the sheet in passing through the machine.

In said figures the several parts are inclicated by reference-numbers,as follows:

The numbers 1 1 indicate the main frames. The form-bed 2 carries twoforms 3 and 4, the numbers 5 and 6 indicating the form-inking rollers,respectively, for said forms.

The number 7 indicates the impression-cylinder for form 3, and 8 theimpression-cylinder for form 4, both cylinders making two revolutions toeach impression. From a feedboard 9 the sheets are fed to theimpressioncylinder 7. The impression-cylinders 7 and 8 are provided withgrippers 10 and 11, operated to take and release the sheets at theproper time by any of the Well-known methods. To a rock-shaft 24,journaled in the frames 1, are secured between the frames 1 a series ofarms 12, carrying on their free ends gripper-rests 25. Journaled in thearms 12 is a rock-shaft 60, carrying a series of grippers 13. Outsidethe frames 1 a sector-pinion 61 is secured to shaft 24. On a stud 80,secured in one of the frames 1, is fulcrumed a lever 81. The upper endof lever 81 forms a toothed sector meshing with the sector-pinion 61.Lever 81 carries a roller 82, running freely on a stud 83, secured inthelever. The lever 81 is operated to oscillate arms 12 at the propertimes by means of a cam 84 into the groove 85, of which the roller 82runs. The cam 84 is secured to an intermediate spur-gear, as indicatedby the circle 86, which meshes into similar gears secured to the axes ofimpression-cylinders 7 and 8, as indicated by the circles of thecylinders themselves 'and through which cylinder 8 is rotated fromcylinder 7. Cam 84, with its gear 86, runs freely on a stud 87, securedin one of the framesl. The impression-cylinders are caused to rise andfall to clear and make contact with their respective forms by thefollowing-described mechanism: A shaft 18 is journaled in the frames 1and actuated by a suitable train of gearing, as indicated by the circles19,19,20, 21, 22, and 23, in such proportion as to make one revolutionto each sheet printed or one revolution to each two revolutions ofimpression-cylinders 7 and 8. The journals of the impression-cylinders 7and 8 run in eccentric boXes 28 29, whose eccentricity is shown indotted lines. The boxes 28 29 have arms 3O 31 secured to them, the boxesand arms being the same for both sides of the machine. J ournaled in theframes 1 are rock-shafts 32 33. On rock-shaft 32, inside the frame 1, issecured alever 34, carrying on its free end a roller 35. On the sameshaft, outside the frame 1, is carried a lever 36. Secured to therock-shaft 33, inside the frame 1, is a lever 38, and a similar lever 39outside frame 1. Levers 34 and 38 are connected by a link 41. Fulcrumedon the inside of the frame 1, on a stud 88, is a lever 42, carrying aroller 44. To the free end of lever 42 is connected a hook-bar 16, whosehooked end engages a roller 35. Conneetin g the free ends of levers 3O36 for impression-cylindcr 7 and levers 31 39 for impression-cylinder Sare links or connecting-rods 37 19. Eccentric boxes 28 29, levers 30 31,links 37 19, and 1cvers 36 39 are the same for both sides of themachine. A box-cam 50 is secured to shaft 18, and the roller 14 engagesagroove of cam 50, as shown. The cam-groove of cam 81 is so formed as togive intern'iittent oscillation to the gripper-arms 12, and the grooveof cam 50 is so formed as to oscillate the eccentric boxes 28 29 at theproper times.

A short rock-shaft 51 is journalcd in one of the frames 1. Outside theframe a lever 52 and inside the frame a lever 53 are secured torock-shaft 51. The free end of lever 53 carries a roller 51, whichengages the under side of the free end of hook-bar 46. On a stud 55,secured in the frame 1, is fulcrumed a bell-crank lever 56, to one armof which is articulated a link 89, connecting with the free end of lever52, and to the other arm a vertically-sliding rod 58, provided withatread 57 in its upper end. A depression of the tread 57 by theattendant disengages the hook-lever 46 from roller 35, keeping theimpression-cylinders 7 and 8 raised from the forms whenever desired.

An oscillating fly 59, operated by any wellknown means, receives thesheet from the top and front of impression-cylinder 8 and deposits it onthe usual receiving-board 75. A supporting-apron 90 is secured to rods91 92, which are themselves secured at their ends in frames 1. The apron90 is for the purpose of supporting the tail of the sheet away from theforms during its transfer from impressioncylinder 7 toimpression-cylinder 8, after being printed on the first form.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: A sheet being fed from thefeed-board 9 to the impression-cylinder 7 is carried around and printedon the first form After a complete revolution of the impression-cylinder7 the grippers 10 release and the grippers 13 take the sheet, thegripper-arms 12 being caused to move by the cam-groove from theirextreme righthand position (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1) toward theleft, so as to meet and coact with grippers 10, grippers 10 openingsimultaneously with the closing of grippers 13, grippers 13 thus takingthe leading edge of the sheet from the impression-cylinder 7. During thesucceeding revolution of impression-cylinder 7 and the non-printingexcursion of the forms the cam-groove 85 causes the grippenarms 12 topass farther to the leftatagradually-retarded rate until their arrivalat the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, allowing them to rest atthat point for a proper period. The sheet meanwhile travels at a fasterrate as the velocity of the gripperarms 12 is reduced and bends downwardand falls upon the apron 90, its leading edge remaining in the grippers13.

The cam-groove 85 during the next non-printing revolution ofimpression-cylinders 7 and 8 again moves the gripper-arms 12 to the leftuntil they reach the extreme left-hand position, (shown in dotted lines,Fig. 1,) the grippers 13, as they pass coacting with grippers 11 ofimpression-cylinder S, to transfer the sheet to impression-cylinder 8the grippers 13 opening simultaneously with the closing of grippers 11.The sheet is now carried down and printed on the second form 4, whilethe gripper-arms 12 by the action of the camgroove 85 are carried againto the extreme right-hand posit-i011, while the impression-cylinders 7and S are down on the forms and printing, and therefore clearing thegrippers 13 on their righthand excursion. Meanwhile theimpression-cylinder 7 has taken a new sheet, printed it on the form 3,and grippers 13 and 10 are again in position to coaet to transfer thesecond sheet. During the next non-printing revolution ofimpressioncylinders 7 and 8 the first sheet is delivered down the fly 59and turned over upon the receiving-board 75.

In the above operation the sheet will liein the apron 9O printed sideup, and will pass down the fiy 59 with the blank side in contacttherewith, and nothing will have touched the printed side of the sheetduring its transfer or delivery.

In the diagrams, Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the passage of the sheetistraced and the several positions of the parts are shown for threedifferent positions of the sheets. the first sheet 95 has been taken byimpression-cylinder 7, printed on the form 3, and the bed 2 has made thegreater part of its printing-stroke with the impression-cylinders InFig. 2

7 and S in contact with the forms. The parts of the sheet-transferringapparatus are now so situated that the grippers 13 are at their extremeright-hand position. and commence to move to the left to coact at theirpoint of nearest approach to the impression-cylinder 7 with the grippers10 of cylinder 7 taking the head of the sheet from cylinder 7.

In Fig. 3 the forms have finished their printing-stroke and made a largepart of the return or non-printing stroke with the cylinders 7 and 8raised from the form, and the sheettransferring apparatus becomes sosituated that the head of the first sheet 95 has been taken by thegrippers 13, the sheet passed off impression-cylinder 7 and fallen downinto the apron 90, the leading edge remaining in grippers 13, and a newsheet 96 is just taken by the grippers 10 of impression-cylinder 7.

In Fig. i the forms have completed their non-printing stroke and made alarger part of their second printing-stroke. The first sheet 95 has beentransferred to cylinder 8 and nearly printed on the second form 4. Thesecond sheet 96 has been printed on the first form 3, and itstransferring apparatus becomes so situated that the gripper-arms 12 havepassed to their extreme right-hand po- IIO sition, ready to move to theleft to take the second sheet from the cylinder 7. During the succeedingnon-printing stroke of the bed 2 the first sheet 95 is delivered downthe fly 59 and the second sheet 96 will lie in the apron 90 with itsleading edges held by grippers 13.

I do not confine myself to the exact means herein shown for oscillatingthe gripper-arms 12, nor for raising and lowering the cylinders 7 and 8,as these movements may be accomplished in many ways without departingfrom the gistof this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In aprinting-machine printing two impressions or colors upon one face of thesheet at one feeding of said sheet, and having two flat forms, as 3 and4:, and two corresponding impression-cylinders, as 7 and 8, carryinggrippers, as 10 and 11, and making two revolutions to each impression,the combination, with said impression-cylinders, of oscillatinggripper-arms, as 12, carrying grippers, as 13, arranged and operated tocoact with the grippcrs of said impression-cylinders, so as to transferthe leading edge of the sheet from .one to the other of saidimpression-cylinders after having received its first impression,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a printing-machine printing two impressions or colors upon oneface of a sheet at one feeding of said sheet, and having two flat forms,as 3 and 4, and two corresponding impression-cylinders, as 7 and 8,carrying grippers, as 10 and 11, and making two revolutions to eachimpression, the combination, with said impression-cylinders, ofoscillating gripperarms, as 12, carrying grippers, as 13, arranged andoperated to coact with the grippers of said impression-cylinders, so astotransfer the leading edge of said sheet from one to the other of saidimpression-cylinders after having received its first-impression, andasupportingapron, as 90, between said impression-cylinders for holdingthe sheet from contact with the form during its transfer from oneimpression-cylinder to the other, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

3. In a printing-machine printing two impressions or colors on one faceof a sheet at one feeding of said sheet, the combination of thefollowing-named elements: two reciprocat ing fiat forms, as 3 and 4, twoimpression-cylinders, as 7 and 8, printing, respectively, thereon,carrying grippers, as 10 and 11, and making two revolutions to eachimpression, oscillating gripper-arms, as 12, carrying grippers, as 13,arranged and operated to coact with the grippers of saidimpression-cylinders, so as to transfer the leading edge of said sheetfrom one to the other of said impression-cylinders after receiving itsfirst impression, a supporting-apron, as 90, between saidimpression-cylinders for preventing contact of the blank side of thesheet with the forms during its transfer from one cylinder to the other,a feed-board, as 9,1eading to the first impression-cylinder, and anoscillating fly, as 59, arranged to take the sheet from the top andfront of the second impression-cylinder after being printed upon thesecond form, whereby sheets fed to the first impression-cylinder areprinted on the first form, transferred to the secondimpression-cylinder, printed on the second form, and delivered to andupon said fly, all Without contact of the printed surface with any partof the mechanism.

JOHN T. HAWKINS.

\Vitnesses:

THEO. H. FRIEND, FRANCIS P. REILLY.

